BBMP budget to focus on traffic too this year, says chief commissioner

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is preparing its budget for 2023-24, to be presented some time next month, has received a total of 16,261 suggestions from citizens.

While a majority of 67 per cent of the suggestions relate to road works, others include underground drainage, laying of 450 km of new footpaths, repair of 950 km of existing footpaths, among others. The civic body has also received suggestions on curbing pollution and increasing allocation for all sectors.

“We have made all preparations and are ready to present the budget anywhere between February 15 and 20, but it has to be approved by the government prior to that. Everything will be done in a transparent manner”, Palike chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath told reporters. The budget will focus on handling traffic in the city, he added.

The chief commissioner also released the My City My Budget 2023-24 by Janaagraha, in association with resident welfare associations. The exercise to elicit opinions and suggestions was took up over one month.

“We had reviewed the report last week. About 56 per cent are from wards in the core areas and the remaining from outside. Most suggestions relate to footpaths, drains, importance to roads and streetlighting. Based only on the responses received, Janaagraha has prepared a sample budget which will help us in making allocations for the action plan”, he added.